Sander



1937- c. P. CADY ET AL 2,097,963

S ANDER Filed Feb. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l anon M015 (I Cue/y 0/70 Lyn/7 Johnson Nov. 2, 1937. c. P. CADY El' AL' 2,097,963

SANDER Filed Feb. 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I CP/C'aafg and Lyn/7 info/1x150 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNHTED STAKES PATENT OFFICE SANDER New York Application February 11, 1936, Serial No. 63,413

4 Claims.

This invention relates to emergency appliances for vehicles, or more particularly to an improved apparatus for distributing sand or other equivalent material in the paths of the vehicle wheels for the purpose of preventing skidding on curves or during braking of the vehicle, and also for improving the traction in initially setting the vehicle into motion or in climbing hills.

One of the most common causes of accidents which confronts the motor vehicle driver today is the skidding of the vehicle on slippery highways which are coated with ice or snow, or which are wet or greasy. Chains and equivalent antiskid tire armor only partially offset the danger, and these appliances rapidly wear out and are hard on the tires, so that it is desirable and customary to use the same as little as possible. The result is that the vehicle operators take far more risks than they should, in order to avoid the nuisance of frequently applying and removing the anti-skid armor according to changing driving conditions. Moreover, under many conditions, anti-skid chains and the like are very ineffective, and sand or some other gritty substance is resorted to and spread over the slippery spots where skidding is likely to occur, or where it is difficult to get the desired traction. Ordinarily, the sand is distributed manually, which, at best, is a tedious and expensive job. The need for a practical and reliable appliance for distributing the sand when needed, and which may be applicable to each individual vehicle, has been long felt, but heretofore the same has not been available, although many have endeavored to devise a suitable sander unit. The principal defect or deficiency in the prior sanders resides in the clogging of the sand due to the presence of moisture in the sand or in the sand delivery pipe or nozzle. Wet or damp sand cannot be readily and freely delivered with any reliability of control, and if the moisture in the sand or on the parts of the sander through which the sand is adapted to flow, freezes in cold weather, the sander becomes substantially inoperative and useless.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a sander appliance of particularly simple, inexpensive, compact, reliable and efficient form, which may be easily applied to various vehicles, and particularly to motor vehicles such as so-called pleasure or commercial cars, buses, trucks, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sander of the aforementioned type, suitable means for maintaining the sand, as well as the parts of the sander through which the sand is delivered, in a dry condition so as to insure free delivery of the sand, especially in times of an emergency, as for example, where the car or truck suddenly goes into a skid.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for directing heated air through the sander so as to keep the sander and the sand dry. Without bringing the air directly in contact with the sand until the sand reaches a point adjacent to the discharge outlet, and then utilizing the air, as by causing the air and sand to mix together, to facilitate distribution or spreading of the sand over the desired area of the traction surface, and particularly in the path of the traction wheels of the vehicle on which the sander is mounted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide as a part of the sander unit, an air circulating means by which the flow of heated air may be maintained substantially uniform, or varied at will, independently of the flow of the exhaust gases of the vehicle motor from which the heat is derived to'heat the air.

The invention also contemplates an improved sander control whereby the control for the air circulating means and the valve for controlling the flow of sand may be operated simultaneously, with preferably the further provision for enabling operation of the air circulating means independently of the sand flow.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a motor vehicle having our improved sander appliance mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken approximately on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line 33 of Figure 4;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively, horizontal sectional views, taken on the lines 4-4 and 55 of Figure 3; V

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the manual control instrumentalities by which the sander valve and the electrical circuits for the sander unit are controlled from a point conveniently accessible to the vehicle operator; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuit, and also showing diagrammatically the interrelation of the electrical con-- trol with the manually operated sand flow control.

to each sander unit, as will be obvious.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, l designates generally the frame of a motor vehicle of any type, 2 the rear or driving wheels, and 3 the front wheels. The vehicle motor or engine is designated 4, and as usual, is provided with an exhaust manifold 5, which is secured to one side of the motor block 4 as by the bolts 6, the manifold serving to conduct the exhaust gases to the usual exhaust pipe I, a fragmentary portion of which is shown in Figure 1.

. One or more sanding devices embodyingour invention may be mounted upon the frame for on any convenient part of the vehicle so as to dispose the same in operative relation to the vehicle wheels. Preferably, the sanding devices are arranged in pairs, one positioned forwardly of each rear or driving wheel 2. Of course, if desired, there may be a sander unit for each wheel, but ordinarily, a single pair is sufiicient. In Figure 1, 8 designates generally one of the sander units which is operatively associated with one of the rear driving wheels 2, and it will be understood that a similar'sanding unit is disposed at the opposite side of the vehicle. Each of the sander units embodies a sand hopper or receptacle 9, and a distributor member ID in which are formed suitable sand and air passages hereinafter to be more specifically described. We also provide suitable means for circulating or forcing air through the air passages of each unit,

and H designates an electric motor for driving the air circulating means, there being a separate motor for each sander unit. Suitable provision is made for heating the air which is circulated through'the sanders, and for this purpose, there has been shown in Figures 1 and 2, a simple form of air heater comprising generally a casing l2 adapted to be mounted so as to extend about the exhaust manifold 5, in spaced relation to the latter for providing an air chamber I3, into which atmospheric air is directed by the forwardly belled mouth M of the heater casing. It will be understood from reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the top, bottom and rear walls of the casing are laterally extended towards the motor block so as to have abutting engagement therewith and thus form the air chamber l3, which is open only at its forward end. The entrance of air into the chamber will be aided by the forward motion of the vehicle as well as by the usual fan (not shown) which forms a part of the cooling system for the motor 4.

To secure the heater casing or jacket l2 in position about the manifold 5, we preferably employ one or more internally threaded spacing sleeves [5, which may be screwed onto one or more of the bolts 6 which are normally provided to bolt the manifold 5 to the block of the motor, the nuts on these bolts being first removed. Stud bolts or screws It may then be passed through suitable openings in the side wall of the casing l2 and screwed into the outer end of the sleeves 15, thereby enabling the casing to be firmly held in'the proper position. The casing or jacket 12 is provided with an air outlet H adjacentto the rear end thereof, to which is connected a conduit or pipe l8 adapted to lead rearwardly therefrom to the sander units for establishing communication between the air passages of the latter with the air chamber I3 of the heater. l9 designates a Y-connection for connecting the conduit ill with the branch conduits 20, one leading It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the precise form of air heater just described, as any suitable type of heater may be employed as desired. However, it is important to note that atmospheric air is circulated through the sander, rather than the exhaust gases themselves.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 5, the body of the distributing member I0 is provided with a vertical sand passage 2! extending therethrough from top to bottom, the upper end of the body projecting into the lower end of the sand receptacle 9 to a point somewhat above the lower end of the latter, as at 22, thereby bringing the upper end of the sand passage above the bottom of the receptacle. This feature is important, inasmuch as it minimizes the entrance into the upper end of the sand passage or tube 2|, of moisture, snow, or the like, which may occasionally collect in the bottom of the sand receptacle 9. The distributor II! is preferably flanged adjacent its upper end, as at 23, to form a seat for the lower end of the receptacle 9, and the bolts 24 serve to secure the receptacle and distributor together. Pivotally mounted at the upper end of the distributor forshifting movement to and from a position across the upper end of the sand passage or tube 2|, is a valve 25. Movement is imparted to the valve through the stem 26, which is connected therewith as by the square shank 21 and nut 28 having threaded engagement with the threaded end 29 of the stem. The stem 28 is journaled in the laterally flanged portion of the distributor body, and extends downwardly below the flange, and carries at its lower end a lever 30, fixedly connected therewith. The lever 30 is provided with oppositely extending arms 3| and 32, the former serving as the valve actuating lever arm, and. the latter serving to limit movement of the valve 25 in one direction through engagement of the arm 32 with the outer face of the distributor body. Intermediate the lever 39 and the lower side of the flange 23, there is provided a coil spring 33, which is normally placed under compression so as to continuously urge the valve stem 28 downwardly and thereby maintain the valve 25 firmly seated on the upper end of the distributing body as it is shifted to and from its position across the upper end of the sand passage 2!. One end 34 of the spring is preferably extended and hooked over and behind the lever arm 3!, as at 35, and the other end of the spring is extended, as at 36, for abutting against the outer face of the distributor body whereby to tension the spring so as to normally maintain the valve in its closed position, that is, across the upper end of the sand passage. The lever 30 is so adjusted on the stem 26 that the lever arm 32 abuts the distributor body when the valve 25 assumes its fully closed position under the urge of the spring tension. Any convenient means may be employed for manually operating the valve 25, and for this purpose, there has been shown a flexible wire or cable 31, preferably having a swivel connection 38 with the lever arm 3|, this wire or cable leading forwardly to a point near the vehicle operators station, where it is connected with suitable control instrumentalities hereinafter described. The wire 31 is preferably housed in a flexible tube or loom 39, the rear end of which may be secured to the distributor body as by the clamping member M].

The distributor body I!) is also provided with an air chamber 4|. extending partially about the sand passage 2!, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5. The hot air is admitted into the chamber through port 42. which the coupling 43 is disposed may be blocked off or closed by a cover plate 44, which is interone or the. other of thelaterally disposed ports .or openings 42, according to whether the unit is mounted onthe right or the leftside of the vehicle. For conveniently connecting the .air conduits 29 to the distributing body, we preferably provide a coupling :member'43 which may be interchangeably fastened to the distributor body at one side or the other for directingthe air into the desired The port opposite to the one over body, disposed adjacent to the discharge end 49 of the sand passage 2 I. In the upper partof'the chamber 45, there. is mounted arotaryimpeller 7:59 adapted ,to be power drivenyas by means of the electric motor II, the motor being preferably removably secured :to .a plate or head 52, as by means ofxbolts 53, andthe plate or head 52 being removably securedto the distributor body, asby suitable "fastening means :54. The motor shaft 55 extends intoithe airrc'hamber 4.5.and has" the impeller 'adjustably mounted thereon by means of the set screwfifi. -Wi=th :suchan arrangement as just describedflthe motor and impeller may be quickly mounted on or removed from the sander unit, as the occasion may:require.

- Removably-securecl to thelower end of the dis.-

tributor unit is a nozzle, genera1ly designated 51, which isso mounted as to register with both the sand pass-age outlet 49 and the air outlet'passage .48. The nozzle is secured t'o-the distributor body by the bolts 58. 'Asbestseenxin liigures 3 and 5, the nozzle includes 'adeflecting wall 59 which extends downwardly at one side of the sand outlet and'the air outlet, and thence curves rear-wardly, in spaced relation to these outlets so as todefleet the air rearwardly into contact with the sand as it is discharged, the mixture of air and sand being then rearwardly discharged through the outlet 69 of the nozzle. The'outlet '60 is generally'rectangular in shape and is defined by the deflecting wall'59 and the side walls '81 extending therefrom about the lower end of the sand and air passages. A partition 62 is formed fin the upper end of the nozzle and constitutes a continuation of the partition 63 in the distributor body so as to maintain the air and sand separated until they both approach the discharge or outlet69 of the nozzle. .A Verticalrib 64 is also provided in the nozzle to facilitate distribution of the sand as it is discharged. It will be understood that the size and shape of the nozzle may be varied as desired, according to the type of vehicle to which the sander is applied. In the case of buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles which usually are provided with very large wheels and broad tires, it may be desirable to use a nozzle having an outlet considerably wider than that shown in the drawings. It is principally for this reason that the nozzles are removably mounted on the distributor body, and the various sizes may be interchanged as desired.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 6 and 7, the control instrumentalities for the sander will now be described. Mounted upon the dashboard 55 or some other convenient support adja cent to the vehicle operatorsstation, is a'bracket -G6-h'aving a. shapeasbest seen in Figure 6. The bracket includes a laterally oifsetflange 61 which may be suitably secured to the dashboard, and is also provided with an extension 68 projecting forwardly from the main body 69 of the bracket. r

The valve operating cables 31 and their housings 39 are extended forwardly from the respective sander units at each side of the vehicle, and the forward extremities of the housings. 39 are secured respectively'to opposite sides of the extension '68, as by means of the clamps i9. Pivotally mounted near the forward upper corner of the main body '69 of the bracket, as at H, is a bellcrank lever 112, one arm '53 of which extends forwardly above the extension 68. The ends of both flexible cables orwires 37 are connected to the free end of'the arm 73, and to facilitate such connection, and adjustment of the length of the wires or cables, we provide a two-part fastening device M having a reduced shank intermediate in an aperture in the free. end of the lever arm '13. The respective parts of the fastening member M, at each side of the lever arm 13, are provided with an opening extending transversely therethrough for the reception of the respective wires or cables 3?, as best shown in Figure 6, and are also each provided with threaded axial bores for the reception of set screws 15, by means of which the wires 31 may bereleasably clamped or fastened to the member 14, as will be obvious. The

.other lever arm 16 of the bell-crank lever 12 has an actuating rod 1'! secured as at 18 to its free end, the rod 11 extending rearwardly through the dash 6'5, and terminating in a handle '58 disposed in a position conveniently accessible to the ve-- hicle operator. v The handle 78 is preferably of such shape thatit may be readily grasped for the purpose of manipulating the operating rod Ti, even though the vehicle operator may be wearing heavy gloves.

Also mounted upon the bracket 66, or some other convenient support adjacent thereto, there is provided -a switch, generally designated 19.

This switch may be of any conventional type, although we prefer to employ a switch-having the characteristic of enabling the'electrical con tacts to be engaged by a slight rocking movement of the switch arm 80, and then maintaining this contact irrespective of further rocking motion imparted. to the switch arm 99, and until the switch arm is permitted to be restored to its normal circuit-breaking position. Operation of the switch arm 89 may be effected through means .of the two-part link '8], one end '82 -.of which is connected with the free end of the switch arm 80, and the other end 83 of which :has the form of an eye loosely fitting about the shank of one of 1 the set screws 15. Aturn-buckle 84, or the equivalent, is preferably provided to permit adjustment of the length of the link 8!, as will be obvious. Fromthe foregoing description, it will be readily understood that the switch 19 is operated to its circuit-closing position through the operation of the sand valve controlling instrumentalities, and simultaneously therewith.v

The electrical circuit and its function will now be described, and particular reference is made to Figure '7 of the drawings. B designates diagrammatically a suitable power source such as a storage battery, which usually forms a part of the motor vehicle equipment, and this battery is connected in series with the switch, also diagrammatically illustrated, and designated 79. The switch, in turnpis connected with the sander the ends of the same, which is rotatably mounted v motors ll, two such motors being diagrammatically shown, inasmuchas the sanders are prefer- -'tension of the springs in maintaining the valves closed, is transmitted through the flexible cables rasp the handle 18 of the 31 to the bell-crank lever 12, and thus urges the lever clockwise in an'amount limited by the rocking of the lever arms 32 on the valve stems 26 against the respective walls, of the distributor bodies of the sander units. Now assuming the valves 25 are in theirnormally closed position, and it is desired to distribute sand on the traction surface, the vehicle operator merely has to operating rod H and pull the same rearwardly, thereby rocking the bell-crank lever 12 in a counter-clockwise direction, which, in turn, exerts a pull on the flexible cables 31 and imparts a rocking motion to the valve stems 25 through the levers 39 fixed to their lower ends, thereby opening the valves to permit the sand to flow from'the receptacles e through the sand passages 2 I. At the same time the valves 25 are opened, the switch 19 is closed by the counter-clockwise movement of the bellcrank lever 12, which exerts a pull on the link 8! interconnecting this lever with the switch arm 88. The motors II are consequently immediately energ zed by the full power of the battery B, resulting in rotation of the impeller at full speed. The hot air derived from the heater I2 is drawn through the air inlets 42 into the air chambers and passages in the distributor bodies of thesander units, and the air is forced out of the air outlets 48 at relatively high velocity. Ultimately, the air and sand are mixed together as they are discharged from the nozzle outlets 60. Ordinarily, the sand need be discharged only momentarily, and its discharge is permitted only so long as the vehicle operator holds the operating rod 11 in its rearwardly shifted position. As soon as the handle 18 is released, the sand valves 25 are automatically restored to their normally closed positions under the influence of the springs 33, and the motor circuits are broken by the simultaneous opening of the switch 19.

Preferably, there is provided suitable means for energizing the motors I l independently of the actuation of the sand valves 25 to their open positions. For this purpose, there is provided a rheostat R, through which a circuit may be established from the battery B to the motors H. The main purpose for which this rheostat circuit is provided is to enable the hot air to be continuously circulated, as desired, through the sander units, so as to keep the sanders dry, and particularly, to prevent moisture which may have a tendency to collect in the distributors/due to the splashing of water by the vehicle wheels or the blowing of snow into the distributor, from freezing. By maintaining the flow of hot air through the distributors, the same will be kept hot, and consequently dry, and the heat will also be transmitted to the sand in the receptacles 9 and therefore keep the sand dry. The extent of the hot air flow may be varied by suitable adjustment of the rheostat R, as will be obvious, such adjustment serving to vary the speed of the unnecessary to have the motors II operating. It

will be apparent that the flow of hot air may be maintained uniform,-or varied as desired, and is entirely independent of the fluctuation in the how of exhaust gases from the vehicle motor.

This is of considerable advantage in sanding devices of the character to which the present invention relates.

While the specific details have been herein shown anddescribed, the invention is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain sand or the like, a sand distributing member depending below said receptacle and having a passage extending through the body thereof for directing the sand from the receptacle to the desired point of discharge, valve means for controlling the flow of sand through said passage, and means for circulating heated air through said distributing member and about said sand passage, said last named means including a drum-shaped chamber having an air intake port substantially axially arranged, and an air passage leading downwardly from said chamber adjacent to the sand passage and having communication with the latter in proximity to the lower end only, an air chamber communicating with the air-intake port of said drumshapecl chamber and extending partially about said sand passage and having an air intake port in a' lateral wall thereof, an impeller mounted in said drum-shaped chamber, and motor means mounted on said distributing member exteriorly of said drum-shaped chamber and operatively connected with said impeller.

2. A distributing unit for sand and the like, comprising a body having a sand passage extending therethrough from top to-bottom, into the upper end of which passage sand is adapted to be delivered from a suitable source of supply, a valve shiftably mounted on said body for movement in a horizontal plane to and from a position across the upper endof said passage, means for yieldably urging said valve laterally to its normally closed position and vertically into close engagement with the end of said body at the upper end of said sand passage, and means for distributing the sand.

3. A distributing unit for sand and the like, comprising a body having a vertical tubular sand passage extending therethrough from top to bottom, valve means shiftably mounted on said body and adapted to control the flow of sand through said sand passage, said body having an air chamber therein extending partially about said sand passage, and having a second air chamber communicating with the first mentioned air chamber and disposed forwardly of the latter for a portion of its length, the remaining portion extending downwardly to the lower end of said body adjacent to the lower end of said sand passage, means mounted in said second mentioned air "chamber for circulating air through the air chamber aforesaid, and means at the lower end of said body for deflecting the air into engagement with the sand as the sand is discharged from the lower end of the sand passage.

4. A distributing unit for sand and the like, comprising a body having a sand passage therethrough from top to bottom and provided with an air chamber extending partially about the sand passage, said body having a second air chamber communicating with the first air cham- 10 her and disposed at one side of the latter for a passage.

portion of its length, the remaining portion extending downwardly to the lower end of said body adjacent to the lower end of the sand passage, means for circulating air through both of said air chambers and out through the lower end of the second air chamber, and valve means for controlling the flow of sand through the sand CHARLES P. CADY. LYNN E. JOHNSON. 

